Guttboy Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Hi Everyone! Really glad to be on board with the forums here! This is my first post so Ill introduce myself..... I have been fishing all my life but got bitten by the Bass bug back in '92 when I got stationed with the USAF in the panhandle of Florida. I joined a local Bass fishing club that was very active and I was a "non boater" which worked out great! Learned a great deal and fished in the south for 6 years. Moved to Japan and then New Mexico until I got stationed in San Antonio 2.5 years ago. While in NM I fished exclusively for trout in Colorado and NM. Now that I am in San Antonio I finally found a 2002 Tracker Pro Crappie with 40 hp on it that was in immacualate barely used condition! It was a deal I could not pass up. I changed the batteries, lower gear oil, lubed it up and now it has been on the waters of Canyon Lake last Sat and Sun. Here is a pic of her...... My Bass tackle has been in storage for a long time (since '98) and I am finding out that my skills/knowledge are a tad bit rusty. Glad to have this site for info to relearn what I have forgotten. I have a lake just 30 min away called Canyon Lake north of San Antonio where I will be fishing primarily. Everyone says this lake has no fish in it but on my shakedown cruises last weekend there is great potential. I think that the river that enters and fills the lake is the best place to be with lots of submerged trees and brush. Saw plenty of baitfish jumping and several boils all over the area. I saw a nice sized Bass jump along shore to ****** something mid day and I was recharged with Bass Fever. Anyhow....I restripped my reels and sharpened the hooks.....now I am ready for some fishing again! One thing rarely used in my arsenal (if you could call it that) was the jig. I really want to learn it and figure around all the trees/brush it will work just fine. My favorite lures/baits used in the past were spinnerbaits and worms...with the morning buzz baits and Pop R's. Crank baits I used a great deal for river/rocky areas. I suppose I will concentrate on Jigs for now with the assorted rods pre-rigged with a Spinner, Crank, and worm. Well sorry for the long intro.....just happy to be here! Any tips and advice are always welcome! Regards, Mike Quote
Super User flechero Posted July 4, 2007 Super User Posted July 4, 2007 Mike, Welcome to the forum! Don't believe them- Canyon lake has lots of fish in it, it's just not known as a big bass lake. And if you want to mix it up a little, get out your fly rod and go below the dam. Lots of little rainbows down there... and further downriver you can catch Largemouth and Guadalupe Bass. Clean looking boat! Best, Keith Quote
Guttboy Posted July 4, 2007 Author Posted July 4, 2007 Keith, I have seen the fish below the dam! And I KNOW that there are fish to be had in the lake because I have seen them...LOL....I would however love to fish upriver on the north side of the lake due to the large amount of submerged timber and brush up there. Reminds me of fishing in the Alabama/Georgia/NW Florida from my earlier days! Have you fished Canyon? Any tips? Thanks for the comment on the boat...Ill get some pics of better quality up soon. Making a "journey" up to Cabela's in Buda...was at Bass Pro shops in San Antonio last night...picked up a boat cover for my buddy. Really nice to have both shops within a 30 min driving distance! Regards, Mike Quote
kevin. Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 HI, Im kinda new too. if your ever in the CS (college station) area we can go fishing, i know this great place down the road from the college that isnt fished very often. Welcome. Quote
Fendercaster Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Hey, Mike, Welcome to the party! I haven't been a member very long, but I have found tons of information and useful tips here. When I was stationed at Lackland in the early '70's, I used to fish Calaveras Lake, a bit southeast of San Antonio. It was there that I first got really hooked on fishing for largemouth, most of my bass fishing at home (Maryland) had been for smallmouths. Have you fished Calaveras? There was great bass and crappie fishing when I was there, just wondering if it's still a good spot. You never know when it's time to make a road trip! Again, welcome to the forum. Scott Quote
Guttboy Posted July 4, 2007 Author Posted July 4, 2007 Thanks for the Welcome everybody! Kevin, I usually dont get up there at all but may in the future! Scott...Have not been to Calaveras Lake...YET....will look into it. Just got back from Cabela's...unfortunately nothing was purchased . WALMART on the otherhand had a really nice tacklebag that fit my needs perfectly....When I used to fish for bass it was mostly big plastic tackle boxes. I love the Plano type boxes now that have bags designed for em! Some of the folks I spoke with fish a great deal for Crappie...cant say that I have ever fished for em but might give it a shot someday. Got a slight problem, maybe operator error, with the motorguide trolling motor on the boat. Not entirely sure what is up with it but whenever I turn with the foot pedal the thing wants to whip around (the trolling motor that is). I will investigate it here shortly. For all you experts (Seeing that I never owned a trolling motor) the prop...should it be in front while pulling you forward or in the back? An outboard prop "pushes" when in forward motion...should the trolling motor prop do the same? Sorry for the newbie question but kinda excited about the new boat. Much easier to get around in than my 26' Wellcraft I had years ago! (No I didnt fish for Bass off it....LOL) Regards, Mike Quote
kevin. Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 front of boat, turn it to where prop faces back to go forward (done it many times going backwards like that in a jon boat. I would assume same basic idea, bigger boat.) Quote
Guttboy Posted July 4, 2007 Author Posted July 4, 2007 Ok...found out my Trolling motor problems....DEE DEE DEE...... I wired the positive and negative wrong....DOH! : I also cranked the motor down to the holder...it was very loose and the previous owner cross threaded the hole half way in. Tapped it out and now its good to go...I think that was a bunch of my problems. Ill check it out tomorrow when I head out to the lake for fishin'....Wish me luck!!!!!! Quote
Super User Alpster Posted July 4, 2007 Super User Posted July 4, 2007 Glad to have you aboard Mike! WELCOME! Ronnie Quote
skillet Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 WELCOME to the forums and I depended on jigs a lot until I found Brush Hogs and Baby Brush Hogs... As Ever, skillet Quote
Guttboy Posted July 5, 2007 Author Posted July 5, 2007 Thanks again! Well....got the boat prepped, Jeep loaded up with all the things I need, organized the tackle, prerigged some topwaters for some early morning fun! Hopefully the weather will hold up and things go well! I plan on being on the lake at sunrise ready to fish....bringing back fond memories now! I am going to fish topwaters for the early morn then switch over to some jiggin and crank baits. Have never really used jigs much but figure I ought to try them and practice. Local fishing report talked about flukes...not entirely sure about them but I have a plan and will stick to it....if anything Ill be having fun and wont be at work!!!! Regards, Mike Thanks again for all the warm welcomes! Quote
Guttboy Posted July 5, 2007 Author Posted July 5, 2007 Thanks Deb, Well I am off! Line of storms to the south...the Low is parked over San Antonio and the weather is circling around it. Going to head out of here in a few minutes so I can get some fishing in before the bad weather starts. First Bass fishing trip in about 10 years!!!!!! Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!! Mike Quote
Super User MALTESE FALCON Posted July 5, 2007 Super User Posted July 5, 2007 Welcome Mike, Stick around here and ask questions, and before you know it you'll have a PHD in bass fishing. This is a great place. Hope you come home today with tired arms and lots of bass catching stories. Falcon Quote
Super User Matt Fly Posted July 5, 2007 Super User Posted July 5, 2007 Welcome aboard from NE Texas. I didn't catch all the Trolling motor talk, but did get worried that we may have a Mook in Texas. Any Trolling motor problems may be directed to the PRO STAFF, and that would be the Mud Man. LOL Matt Quote
Guttboy Posted July 5, 2007 Author Posted July 5, 2007 Well....Skunked! > Made it to the lake just before daybreak and was fishing as the sun started rising....first cast was around 7am. There were fish boiling up on top of the water left and right of me in a large area about 30' deep with a bunch of junk that was floating down the river to the lake because of the torrential rains. Lake Levels are VERY high and the river is way over its banks. Tossed topwaters (hulapopper and torpedo) to no avail. Tried some white/red spinner baits along the submerged trees. Tried some crawfish colored cranks. Then proceded with a 3/4 oz brown rattlin jig. All the while I hear fish hit the surface see the ripples but no hits. The breeze and the current played a bit with me. At noon I called it a day as the sky got pretty dark and the wind switched direction a bit. Didnt want to get caught out in a storm. Unfortunately there was no storm...ratz....but was good to get the boat out of the water and back home. I sit here 3 hours later wishing I was there...LOL..... I really wish that I saw some other people fishing so I could ask them what they use on this lake....fishing reports are lacking and I know of no one that fishes it. Well....it was really fun and cant wait to get back up there....will be out of town flying next week so Ill toss the baits in around the 14th! If anyone has any advice pls toss it my way....first time skunked in years.....well I guess Ill toss it up to "rust".....LOL Regards, Mike Quote
mattm Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 Welcome....looks like you found a nice little boat. Quote
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